Is the 2007 Kia Sorento a bad year?
154 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sorento years.
Keep it. You picked a good year.
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2007 Kia Sorento are in line with other Sorento years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
2th quietest of 16 Sorento years by owner complaints (years with 7+ years on the road).
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Sorento owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 14,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 58 (38%) | 1k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 24 (16%) | 29k–113k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 21 (14%) | 42k–111k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 20 (13%) | 20k–93k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Stability control | 18 (12%) | 40k–94k miles · ahead | — |
| Exterior lighting | 12 (8%) | 32k–97k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 10 (6%) | 60k–113k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 10 (6%) | 40k–121k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structure | 9 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 14,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 154 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 8 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2007 Kia Sorento: 4
Moisture may enter the Anti-lock Brake (ABS) Module and result in an electrical short. An electrical short within the ABS Module may cause an engine compartment fire, even when the vehicle is turned off, increasing the risk of an injury.
In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
The front passenger air bag may be turned off when an adult is in the passenger seat. The front passenger air bag is designed to be turned off in limited circumstances including when children and small adults are seated in the front passenger seat, there is a child restraint in that seat or the seat is not occupied. The passenger side air bag is turned off when the OCS misclassifies an adult passenger.
The stop lamp switch in the affected vehicles may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. Any of these malfunctions, alone or in combination, may lead to a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Kia: 12
Repair instructions Kia sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Kia Sorento. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
CYLINDER HEAD STEEL BALL INSPECTION AND INSTALLATION - This Pitstop provides information regarding the inspection and installation of the steel sealing ball…
ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable…
Due to design of drain holes in valley of lambda V6 engines, a misdiagnose of a possible oil leak source in rear main seal or oil pan…
ECM upgrade with tp sensor replacement-mil on with DTC P2135/P0638
NHTSA defect investigations: 3
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Air Bag Occupant Classification System
Air bag OCS
Neighbouring years
2006 Sorento: 242 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2008 Sorento: 217 complaints, keep it.
Every Kia Sorento year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Sorento years side by side
Other Kia models: Kia Amanti · Kia Cadenza · Kia Carnival · Kia EV6 · Kia EV9 · Kia Forte · Kia K5 · Kia Niro · Kia Optima · Kia Optima Hybrid · Kia Rio · Kia Rondo · Kia Sedona · Kia Seltos · Kia Sephia · Kia Soul · Kia Spectra · Kia Sportage · Kia Stinger · Kia Telluride. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2007 Kia Sorento a bad year?
154 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sorento years. At 14,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Kia Sorento?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (58), brakes (24), electrical system (21), transmission and drivetrain (20), stability control (18).
How many recalls does the 2007 Kia Sorento have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Brakes (NHTSA 20V-088), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 13V-114), Air bags (NHTSA 11V-473), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09V-130). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.